Considering that LGBTI people still experience higher levels of abuse, stigma and discrimination than the general population, why would Senator Abetz want to force government spaces to take down symbols that reassure Australians who are LGBTI that they are safe?

Of course, this is a local community leader bizarrely obsessed with opposing many legal reforms and initiatives to make life safer and easier for LGBTI people throughout his political career.

Maybe the question he should ask himself instead is if it's time for a new senator who doesn't spend so much taxpayer time trying to keep rights away from vulnerable minority groups, and instead looks to protecting all Tasmanians.

The Fair Work Decision to reduce penalty rates (legislated entitlements) for low-paid workers is a direct support for employers fully supported by the Coalition government.

Should the same right not extend to employers of politicians (Australian taxpayers) to expect similar or equal percentage reductions to politicians and public servants  (entitlements) concessions, to enable workers to reduce their costs?  

Where would one start?

Perhaps by seeing all entitlements, claimed to be tax free and equating to five times their declared salaries.

IT IS difficult to believe that people could be naïve enough to believe that the proposed (but defeated) plebiscite was going to be conducted without any ‘hate’ campaigns (The Examiner, March 2).

Even in the lead-up to the parliamentary vote that killed it there was acrimony from both sides of the debate with a function for those against same-sex marriage cancelled after threats were made.

Then there were the religious groups who were calling for various anti-discrimination acts to either be watered down or suspended completely for the duration of the campaign period.

They weren’t doing so in order to blow kisses in the direction of supporters of same-sex marriage. Intolerance is inherent for some and it would have been a travesty to have their campaigns given greater voice via federal government funds, tax-payers monies.  

Thankfully sense prevailed and the proposed plebiscite will never see the light of day.

Federal parliament should simply pass a minor legislative amendment that gives legal recognition to same-sex marriage and put an end to the constant debate.

COULD the Newnham university campus be used to house the homeless?

AS SPECULATION continues as to the futures of Lara Giddings and David Llewellyn, I would encourage both to serve their full terms or until an election is called, where undoubtedly, the Labor factions will continue to reward their candidates for servility and longevity?

The Liberals “have no factions” according to a recent decree by Malcolm Turnbull, and the Pauline Hanson Party continues to offer simplistic solutions to very complex problems, which it seems, to very appealing to some sections of the community.